Make France Great Again-Chapter 827 - 818: Laborers? Militias!

Faced with Jerome Bonaparte’s inquiry, Franz Joseph nodded without hesitation.

"Jerome, you should understand what our Austrian Empire needs right now, so I hope you can give us an opportunity!" Franz Joseph pleaded with Jerome Bonaparte to provide him an opportunity to earn foreign exchange.

Currently, various sectors of the Austrian Empire have investments from the French Empire, and those banks provide investment funds to the Austrian Empire mostly in the form of bonds raised.

It can be said that the economy of the Austrian Empire is linked to the fluctuations of stocks and bonds on the Paris Stock Exchange.

In the event of fluctuations on the Paris Stock Exchange, the economy of the Austrian Empire could suffer a significant blow.

From Jerome Bonaparte’s perspective, this kind of tied-up economy indeed benefits the French Empire’s control over the Austrian Empire.

However, from Franz Joseph’s perspective now, this situation is greatly disadvantageous to the Austrian Empire.

This is equivalent to entrusting the lifeline of one’s home to another’s hands; although this ally shows no signs of turning against them for now, no one can guarantee that the future will always remain peaceful and friendly.

Therefore, like Cavour, Franz Joseph hopes to take advantage of Jerome Bonaparte’s need for laborers to accumulate some foreign exchange for the Austrian Empire to prepare for potential changes.

Of course, Jerome Bonaparte can be sure that Franz Joseph did not think of such things by himself; it was likely Prince Metternich who egged him on to speak to Jerome.

The reason Metternich knows about this is probably related to the little Prince Metternich in Paris.

However, Jerome Bonaparte is not interested in "exposing" the Prince Metternich hiding behind Franz Joseph.

He smiled and responded to Franz Joseph: "Of course, I am willing to cooperate with the Austrian Empire!"

"How many laborers do you need? I will arrange for them immediately!" Franz Joseph asked Jerome Bonaparte again.

"At the moment, Algeria does not need many laborers!" Jerome Bonaparte said casually, "We have previously signed a labor agreement with Cavour, and about tens of thousands of Sardinian laborers will head to Algeria in batches!

These laborers are sufficient to meet the needs of the Algerian region!"

"Then forget it!" Franz Joseph responded to Jerome Bonaparte with a hint of disappointment.

"However..." Jerome Bonaparte continued, "there are still large labor gaps in some companies I have in Senegal and the Holy Land!

If the Austrian Empire is willing, I can persuade domestic companies to sign labor agreements with you!"

"Of course!" Franz Joseph promptly replied to Jerome Bonaparte: "When can we sign the agreement?"

"There’s no need to rush!" Jerome Bonaparte responded calmly and then gave Franz Joseph a heads-up: "Let me be clear, I only want Croatian laborers!"

"Hmm? Why?" Franz Joseph asked curiously.

"Because Croatians are loyal!" Jerome Bonaparte casually replied.

"Them? Loyal?" Franz Joseph’s expression was somewhat odd; he couldn’t quite connect Croatia with loyalty.

During the European Revolution Period, the current Croatian Governor Josip Jelačić took the lead in defying the orders of the Austrian Empire.

Although Josip Jelačić later did comply with the Austrian Empire’s orders, that was after the Hungarian rebellion.

Franz Joseph always believed that Croatia initially wanted to oppose the Austrian Empire, but at that time Hungary, under the influence of the rebel Kossuth, was unwilling to accept them.

Only then did Josip Jelačić stand with the Austrian Empire, and he reluctantly recognized Josip Jelačić’s position as Croatian Governor after taking office.

"That’s right! Loyal!" Jerome Bonaparte nodded again in response to Franz Joseph.

"Alright! I will select the Croatian laborers!" Jerome Bonaparte decided not to dwell on the loyalty of Croatians.

"By the way, those laborers will be incorporated into the Foreign Legion’s ranks!" Jerome Bonaparte reminded Franz Joseph once more.

"Foreign Legion?" Franz Joseph looked even more puzzled.

"Senegal is too dangerous, so those heading to Croatia must undergo a few months of military training in Lyon! After completing the training, they become part of the Foreign Legion!" Jerome Bonaparte explained emphatically.

"If soldiers in the Foreign Legion die, how should the compensation be calculated?" Franz Joseph asked Jerome Bonaparte again.

"According to the annual wages of the laborers multiplied by two as their death compensation!" Jerome Bonaparte responded decisively to Franz Joseph, "This money will be given directly to you, and it’s up to you how to distribute it!"

"Alright! I agree!" Franz Joseph replied to Jerome Bonaparte.

Then, Franz Joseph discussed the annual salary of Croatian laborers with Jerome Bonaparte.

"1000–1200 francs!" Jerome Bonaparte replied to Franz Joseph, "Slightly lower than the wage of an average worker in Paris!"

"Alright!" Franz Joseph nodded once again.

1000–1200 francs is equivalent to the basic wage of an average worker in a third-tier city in France, whereas in the Austrian Empire, it is the highest wage outside of Vienna and Prague.

The life of a laborer is worth twice the annual wage, equivalent to 2000–2400 francs, and this is the price given due to Jerome Bonaparte’s kind heart.

Sending these laborers to the United Kingdom, not expecting compensation, would already be commendable if they didn’t deduct wages for London entrepreneurs.

Jerome Bonaparte was willing to offer this price to recruit Croatians because he didn’t view these people as normal laborers.

Instead, they were militarily trained militia units, and their purpose in Senegal and the Holy Land was naturally to stir up trouble.

Especially in Senegal, Jerome Bonaparte has now formulated a colonial expansion strategy for Africa, with Senegal as the only occupied land in West Africa by the Second Empire, naturally serving as a forward base.

What mattered to Jerome Bonaparte was not Croatia’s so-called loyalty, but the unique loyalty culture of the Balkan nations.

Jerome Bonaparte clearly remembered the "Ustasha" organization of the Independent State of Croatia ninety years later, which caused the deaths of hundreds of thousands in Yugoslav territory.

The current Croatian Governor, Josip Jelačić, also led Croatian troops to inflict certain massacres in Hungary.

Though 19th-century imperialism was no good thing, the Croatian tradition inherited in the Balkans was exemplary.

Therefore, Jerome Bonaparte particularly needed these "loyal and capable" Croatians to help him eliminate part of the population in West Africa.

After settling on the price, Franz Joseph and Jerome Bonaparte chatted for a while before leaving the study.

Jerome Bonaparte returned to the bedroom and saw Augusta sitting on the sofa, then slowly walked over to sit beside her.

"What did Franz ask of you?" Empress Augusta inquired to Jerome Bonaparte.

"Discussing with me how to resolve France’s economic constraints on them!" Jerome Bonaparte responded offhandedly, "Franz feared being controlled by our money and hence hoped to earn foreign exchange through labor!"

"So you agreed?" Empress Augusta asked again.

"Of course!" Jerome Bonaparte softly replied, "Anyway, we need labor to populate our lands in Africa now!"

Just then, a knock was heard from outside, prompting Empress Augusta to hurriedly get up to open the door.

Elizabeth and Countess Raphaelt appeared at the entrance, "Augusta sister, hope we’re not disturbing you!"

"No, what’s up?" Augusta curiously asked.

"It’s a long night, shall we play some cards!" Elizabeth spread her hands, revealing a stack of cards to Augusta.

"Sure!" Augusta invited Elizabeth and the Countess Raphaelt inside.

Elizabeth and the Countess Raphaelt, upon Jerome Bonaparte’s invitation, sat on the other two sofas.

Elizabeth explained the rules to Jerome Bonaparte and Augusta, they were playing Whist.

The four were divided into two opposing teams.

"Then Augusta and I will form a team, and you with Madam Raphaelt!" Jerome Bonaparte immediately suggested to Elizabeth.

"No, we should leave this to God!" Elizabeth handed Jerome Bonaparte and the others a coin.

The four present tossed the silver coin, and after a few rounds, finally decided the teams,

Jerome Bonaparte was paired with Elizabeth, Rafael with Augusta.

"Don’t hold me back!" Jerome Bonaparte said to Elizabeth.

"You’re the one who shouldn’t hold me back!" Elizabeth retorted.

Once the game officially started, Jerome Bonaparte and Elizabeth had no rapport, quickly falling behind against Augusta and Rafael.

After several rounds, the two began to verbally attack each other, finding new ways to confound the other.

Augusta and Rafael’s teamwork gradually became more coordinated, with Jerome Bonaparte and Elizabeth losing even more badly.